Coaches Angry After Kennedy Routs Cypress

Charles Marino rushed for 130 yards and scored two second-half touchdowns to lead Kennedy to a 36-6 nonleague victory over Cypress Thursday night at Western High School.

After leading 9-6 at halftime, the Fighting Irish (1-0) scored four touchdowns in the second half. But the game wasn’t without controversy.

Kennedy’s last score, a five-yard run by reserve running back Darrin Martineau with 14 seconds remaining in the game, prompted an angry exchange between first-year Cypress Coach Jack Jensen and Kennedy’s Mitch Olsen at mid-field after the game.

Neither coach would speak with reporters afterward.

Marino, a junior, teamed with wide receiver Wes Morris to pace Kennedy’s attack. Morris scored the first Fighting Irish touchdown with 17 seconds left in the first half on a 25-yard reverse.

The Cypress defense initially stopped Morris, who then regained his balance and completed the scoring run. He also caught a seven-yard pass from Chris Clark to cap a seven-play, 72-yard drive to start the second half.

Cypress (0-1) had trouble getting its offense on track. The Centurions gained 25 yards rushing and were limited to two field goals by Joey Meza. Early in the second quarter, following Matt Boynton’s fumble recovery, Cypress drove to the Kennedy three-yard line, but the drive stalled. The Centurions got no closer than the Kennedy 30 the remainder of the game.

The teams combined for nine turnovers (eight fumbles and an interception).